Letters from the Field

[Original letter in German]

with contributions from Anna Six

Berlin, Germany, October 19, 1923.

To The Christian Science Board of Directors

Dear Friends:

To-day I can give you an accurate report regarding the condition of the funds you have placed in my hands. Three weeks ago people hesitated to spend millions for their food; they had got used to millions, only to be terrified to-day at the billions required. In a few weeks mortal mind has quieted down, and understands that a billion is now not as much as fifty pfennig [half a mark] formerly was. Only, one must have it! The Christian Scientist gets into situations to-day out of which only One can save him—God. The greatest difficulty for every one is that he does not know how much he will need in the next few days. For instance, a practitioner works for two weeks; his patients have paid him properly; he then goes to pay for his rent and gas, and finds that instead of millions, which he has taken in, he now has billions to pay out. If one asks, "How is that?" he gets the stereotyped reply, "The dollar has risen enormously since yesterday." No one says that the mark has dropped further. You may be convinced, dear friends, that words are inadequate to picture the conditions here, so that you can get a clear idea of them.

You have no idea how patiently—I might say, with what apathy—some of the people bear the conditions. For years a large number of the people have been living without sufficient nourishment and in the greatest resignation. They do not pull themselves together to make a change, not knowing where the fault lies and where salvation may be found. You may be sure that the largest number in Germany feel, "They are all against us." I know that this is not true. When the Christian Scientists in Germany awake to see what the tumult means and whence it comes, everything will soon change. And I must say, although things look bad at present, I feel more happily confident than ever before. One can see more clearly that God is, and that Truth works. It is our duty to help, and to impart to the struggling ones the realization of the ever-presence of divine Love.

I, therefore, am very happy about your cablegram of October 19, cabling money, which has come in while I write this letter. Here the love of God is again manifested, the love of Love, which does not let its child go under. If we only had still more of gratitude! Only he who is grateful can feel and realize God's goodness. And have we not always reasons for gratitude, even if things look ever so black to the senses? How much joy it will occasion among the Christian Scientists, when they know that our friends in America are thinking of us! I know, dear friends, money cannot do it; but Love does the work. I am distributing the money with so much joy. I should like to accompany each gift with the call: "Do you see! They are thinking of you!" This will again occasion a beautiful healing. We have helped only in extreme need, and always encouraged people to work out their problems spiritually; but I believe the time has come when it is necessary to help more widely those who need assistance. A hundredweight of coal now costs four billions; a hundredweight of potatoes also four billions. People will now be able to buy coal and potatoes. Oh, it is lovely!

The rent of the halls for services swallows up unthinkable amounts. Munich, for instance, paid two weeks ago two billion marks for every Wednesday evening meeting. In Berlin we pay six billions. Munich has ceased paying its Readers and others. The other churches so far have paid salaries, but the recipients can hardly buy a loaf of bread with them during the week. Help is greatly needed in this respect.

In closing, I wish to touch upon the question of literature prices. The prices are changed every Monday, being based upon the official rate at the end of the preceding week. To-day the price for a textbook is one billion, five hundred million marks. At first people were terrified at the billion, but this coming Monday it will be four billion, five hundred million, so that the one and a half billion will seem low in comparison. Second Church, Berlin, has written you that they find the price too high. We have experienced that when the price was forty-five millions for Science and Health, the people bought gladly and liberally. This week the sales are much less. Science and Health formerly cost slightly less than fifteen marks. A loaf of bread which formerly cost fifty pfennig costs a billion this week. From this you will know how much cheaper Science and Health always is comparatively. The price of bread is the best standard of measurement.

You were kind enough to inquire regarding my Christian Science work. With great gratitude to God I can say that I am getting along better. I have again come out from under the heavy pressure under which I seemed to be for quite a long time. I have learned to understand more of divine Love, and know thereby better how to protect myself. I am again working gladly and with joy.

I thank you for all your trouble and love for us here in Germany.

With cordial greetings,

(Signed) Anna Six.

*The textbook was in normal times almost thirty times as expensive as a loaf of bread. Now it is only four and a half times as expensive.

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November 24, 1923

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